TESTING POSITIVE FOR STUPID: “The new and current LPD [liberal/progressive/Democrat] ‘natural law’ is illustrated in the ‘spread the wealth’ mantra. But it hearkens back to two of Aesop’s fables. The fable about the ant and the grasshopper comes to mind, as does the one about killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.... It’s the latter that demonstrates beyond any doubt that the LPDs have tested positive for stupid.”

INSTAPUNDIT reflects on the Tea Party convention: "The attendees want politicians who will deliver on Obama's promise of clean and open government."

Hmm. That doesn't sound like knuckle-dragging, right-wing racist bigots to me.

I wonder if the political nomenklaltura will get the message.

THE HIDDEN COST OF SENATE GRIDLOCK: Obama can't fire anyone. Ezra Klein argues that because of Republican obstruction (of administration positions requiring Senate confirmation), the President dares not to fire any of his current appointees, even those badly in need of firing.

Au contraire. The President most certainly can fire any of his appointees. The danger (to him) is that we may find the government more effective without them – and without them being replaced.

SCIENTISTS seek better way to do climate report.

Start over?

SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM: cooking again?

One can hope. The Congressional Budget Office long term (2010 to 2020) economic outlook predicts in Appendix D that social security will run a deficit of about $28 billion in 2010.

How's that retirement planning looking?

HOWARD DEAN: "One of the most disturbing things about the Republican Party over the last couple of decades is that they just don’t believe in science any more."

"One of the most disturbing things about the Republican Party over the last couple of decades is that they just don’t believe in pseudoscience any more.

There. Fixed.

GROUPTHINK COMPLIANCE has never felt so right!

And Audi is no longer on my list of desirable automobiles.

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON on the fall of the Roman Empire.

The only difference between the Roman Empire and today is that with technology we can fail so much faster.

REGARDING Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign against childhood obesity, it seems to me that the Obama administration is doing a pretty good job keeping the economy down and unemployment up. I seem to recall from somewhere that starvation is a cure for obesity.

CAN WE HAVE OUR INCANDESCENT LIGHTS BACK? Phil Jones, head of the CRU, comes clean: "It is possible the Medieval Warm Period was indeed a global phenomenon thereby making the temperatures seen in the latter part of the 20th century by no means unprecedented.

More here. And here.

EXCUSES, EXCUSES: It’s still Bush’s fault.

Um, Mr. President, try turning the ignition off. You do have the key....

[Update] Link fixed.